Chicago Cubs Baseball

Anyone who’s had the privilege of catching any of this weekend’s Chicago Cubs-St. Louis Cardinals series has been privy to a mid-season treat. We’ve seen the comeback of Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano, a couple of gnarly nailbiters and enough high drama to send a heart patient into cardiac arrest.

Can someone pass the nitroglycerin?

Then there’s the return of former Cardinal Jim Edmonds to St. Louis and the media-fueled feud between the current Cub and former manager Tony La Russa.

As if a high-impact, mid-season series between Central Division rivals wasn’t enough. Thanks guys.

For anyone who’s been breathing Cubbie blue it’s been a well-publicized story line, such that, the details aren’t necessary. But to capsulize, the Cardinal skipper took offense to Edmonds’ stated allegiance to his current employer - Chicago Cubs baseball.

How dare he. At least in La Russa’s mind.

But then again, this wouldn’t be the first time that La Russa’s mind has been called into question. Last year it was the St. Louis media that caught the Cardinal manager’s ire when they playfully printed a story why the Cubs haven’t won a World Series in 99 years and counting.

It was baffling to a baseball observer why an opposing manager would come to the defense of a rival. Then again, it’s equally as confounding why a manager would bat his pitcher eighth in the lineup instead of the customary ninth slot. Last time I checked the Cardinals roster there was no one by the name of Ruth or even Zambrano.

I’ve always viewed La Russa as someone who sees himself as an “outside the box” thinker. Much the same way basketball’s Phil Jackson views himself as the sport’s mystic mind.

Memo to both: Your respective sports have existed before you and will live beyond you regardless of any innovations you might bring to the games.

In La Russa’s case, his comments regarding Edmonds served nothing more than as an unnecessary distraction to what has been a wonderful series to watch through two games.

Besides. Watching Edmonds tip-toe towards home in yesterday’s eighth inning, it should be Cubdom questioning his allegiance.